Objective:Caesalpinia digyna belongs to the genus Caesalpinia, which is known since ancient times for its medicinal properties. The present work was designed to evaluate the beneficial potential of hydroalcoholic extract of the roots of C. dignea against hydrochloric acid (HCl)-induced acute lung injury in mice. Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extract of C. dignea roots at a dose of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg boy weight was given once orally 90 min before HCl administration. Mice were then analyzed for infiltration of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and oxidative stress markers in the lung tissue. Further, the effects of the extract were compared with bergenin isolated from the extract. Results: Our results showed that an oral administration of the extract 90 min before HCl instillation reduced the infiltration of neutrophils in the lungs in a dose-dependent manner. Reduction in lung inflammation was associated with decline in pulmonary edema as the total protein content in the BALF was found to be decreased substantially. The drug also restored the redox balance in the lungs toward normal on HCl treatment as assessed by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and catalase activity. Bergenin, isolated from the plant, was able to suppress the neutrophils but increased the macrophage number in BALF when administered before HCl instillation, suggesting immunoregulatory properties of the key constituent of the extract. Conclusion: Our data suggest that hydroalcoholic extract of Caesalpinia digyna roots constitute the phytochemicals that can protect against HCl-induced acute lung injury in mice.
Abbreviations Used: ALI: Acute lung injury, BALF: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, MDA: Malondialdehyde, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, DCF-DA: 2' 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate

Background: Sexual dysfunction is caused by multiple anatomical, physiological, medical, and psychological factors. Many studies have shown the efficacy of herbal remedies on increasing libido and sexual function. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of three herbs of ginger, cinnamon, and rose on sexual function of depressed women with low sex drive. Materials and Methods: This randomized double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on 140 depressed women with sexual dysfunction who were divided into four groups receiving oral drops of rose, ginger, cinnamon, or placebo. The information about the two variables of sexual function and depression were collected by Female Sexual Function inventory questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean scores of sexual dysfunction and depression were significantly improved in the three groups after treatment (P < 0.05) so that sexual dysfunction score in placebo group had the lowest rate of improvement with the mean of 1.55 ± 0.44 and in ginger group had the highest improvement rate with the mean of 4.04 ± 1.07. Depression in placebo group had the lowest improvement rate with the mean of 3.71 ± 1.94 and in cinnamon group had the highest rate of improvement with the mean of 6.29 ± 1.57, but there was no significant difference between the four groups (P > 0.05). The factors such as received treatments with impact factor of 0.723 and age with impact factor of 0.170 had direct relation and depression with impact factor of −0.078 had reverse relation to sexual performance improvement (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Herbal medicines, except for their positive impacts on sexual function, may have positive but minor effects on depression.
Abbreviations Used: FSFI: Female sexual function inventory, BDI: Beck depression inventory, Spss: Statistical package for social science.

Background: Use of herbs as medicinal plants to treat various clinical ailments has grown for the last two decades. Cancer is one of the most dreadful disease and extracts of various medicinal herbs have been subjected for the analysis to elucidate their possible role in the prevention of proliferation of cancer cells. Crocus sativus is an autumnally flowering plant rich in active ingredients apocarotenoids such as crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal which have been reported to have antiproliferative potential due to their strong antioxidant potential. Objective: To elucidate the antiproliferative potential of C. sativus extract (CSE) and its major constituents crocin and safranal on four different malignant cell lines (Alveolar lung epithelial cancerous cell line [A549], breast epithelial cancerous cell line [T47D], colon colorectal cell line [HCT-116], and prostrate cancerous cell line [PC3]) and nonmalignant cell line (L929). Materials and Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the content of crocin and safranal in saffron extract and antiproliferative effects of CSE, crocin, and safranal were evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. All cells were incubated with different concentrations of CSE, crocin, and safranal for 48 h. In a concentration-dependent manner, both safranal and crocin reduced cell proliferation in all malignant cell lines. Results: The IC50 values ranged between 0.32 and 0.42 mM for safranal, 0.31 and 0.92 mM for crocin, and 0.58 and 0.98 mg/ml for saffron extract. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that saffron and its components can inhibit cell proliferation in cancerous cells. Consequently, these agents could potentially be used as a chemopreventive agent for cancer management in the near future.
Abbreviations Used: CSE: Crocus sativus extract; A549: Alveolar lung epithelial cancerous cell line, HCT-116: Colon colorectal cell line, T47d cell line: Breast epithelial cancerous cell line, PC-3 cell line: Prostrate cancerous cell line; HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography, MTT: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.

Background: One of the major antioxidants in Myrmecodia pendens (sarang semut) tubers is anthocyanin. Objective: To obtain antioxidant activity and anthocyanin concentration from sarang semut optimally through an appropriate method. Materials and Methods: Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was chosen because of its brief extraction time (ET), saving solvents, and being inexpensive compared to conventional extraction methods. Experiment design was prepared using response surface methodology. 1,1-diphenyl-1-2-picrylhydrazyl and reducing power method were used for the determination of the antioxidant activity, while the Association of Analytical Communities official method 2005.02 was used for the anthocyanin concentration calculation. Results: It was found that the optimum antioxidant activity was obtained at 80% ethanol, sample-to-solvent ratio (S/S ratio) 1:12, ET 10 min, and MAE power 50%. Meanwhile, the optimum anthocyanin extraction was obtained at 80% ethanol, S/S ratio 1:8, ET 3 min, and MAE 10%. Conclusion: The optimum condition of antioxidant activity and anthocyanin concentration was the same at the solvent used, yet different at the S/S ratio, ET, and power level which open further research to support this study.
Abbreviations Used: S/S ratio: Sample-to-solvent ratio, ET: Extraction time, MAE power: Microwave-assisted extraction power, RSM: Response surface methodology.

Background:Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) is a plant, reported for its variety of ethnic medicinal uses and widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Objective: The present work has been planned to screen antiarthritic activity of fruit of the plant with the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Materials and Methods: Fruit powder was successively extracted with ethanol (95%) and water using soxhlet extraction and subjected to phytochemical screening to identify different phytoconstituents. Ld50studies for both (ethanolic and aqueous) extracts were conducted up to the dose level of 2 g/kg by following OECD up and down method of guidelines No. 425. Antiarthritic activity was performed using formaldehyde, Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats, and Collagen-induced arthritis model in mice. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of saponins, sterols, mucilage, glycosides, alkaloids, steroidal saponins in both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of M. charantia. No mortality was observed with aqueous and ethanolic extracts up to the maximum dose level of 2 g/kg. In Formaldehyde induced arthritis model the percentage reduction in paw volume was 30.69% and 42.81% for aqueous extract whereas for ethanolic extract it was 25.23% and 39.5%. In Freund's adjuvant model, the percentage of reduction in paw volume was 56.1% and 66.51% for ethanolic extract and 52.6% and 63.83% for aqueous extract, respectively. In collagen-induced arthritis models, the arthritis index was found 6.02 and 3.68 for ethanolic extract at medium and high dosage. The arthritis index of aqueous extract was found 5.66 and 4.03 at medium and high dosage. Conclusion: From the present experimental findings of both pharmacological and biochemical parameters observed from the current investigation, it is concluded that at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg aqueous extract of M. charantia possesses potentially useful anti-arthritic activity since it gives a positive result in controlling inflammation in adjuvant-induced arthritic and collagen-induced arthritis model in rats and mice
Abbreviations Used: LD50: Lethal dose 50%, OECD: Organization for Economic and Co-operation Development, CMC: Carboxy Methyl Cellulose.

Background:Z. clinopodioides Lam. is also known as a ''Field Mint'' Seven compounds which have vasodilator activity have been isolated from Z. clinopodioides Lam. and two of them are phenolics compounds and these are acetovanillone, 4-HAP, four of them are flavonoids and these are acacetin, apigenin, chrysin, thymonin, one derivat of cinnamic acid and ethyl 4-coumarate. Objective: In this study, it was aimed that was defined vasodilator activiy mechanisms of fenolic compound 4-HAP on isolated rat thorasic aorta. Material and Method: In this study 40 male adult Sprague Dawley rats were used. Prepared rings were laid out into the 20 ml organ bath with Krebs solution. Rings were stretched by 1g and they were subjected to 1 hour incubation period. In the end of the incubation period, PE, KCI, nifedipine, L-NAME, 4-HAP, SQ22.536, ODQ, ACh, SKF96365, Propranolol, Atropin, TEA, Gibenclamide, 4-aminopyridine and U73122 were implemented to bath with a protocol. Results: Mechanisms of relaxed effect the of 4-HAP were assigned by using antagonists. It was observed that vasorelaksan effect of 4-HAP on endothelilal aorta smooth muscle contractions which had been inductioned by PE under the existance of L-NAME was considerably inhibited. Conclusion: It was stated that 4-HAP relaxed PE and KCI contractions and owing to this activity endothel intact tissues on L-NAME existance notably decreased because of NO pathyway. It is firmly believed that as relaxed effect of 4-HAP declines remarkably under the existance of 4-aminopyridine and nifedipine on endothel denuded aorta rings, activity could be on K+ channel and L-type Ca+2 channel.
Abbreviations Used: 4-HAP: 4-hydroxyacetophenone, SQ22536: 9-(Tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine, 9-THF-Ade, L-NAME: N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, 4-AP: 4-aminopyridine, TEA: Tetraethylammonium, ODQ: 1H-(1,2,4) oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one, SKF96365: 1-[β-(3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)propoxy)-4-methoxyphenethyl] 1H-imidazolehydrochloride, 1-[2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-2-[3-propoxy]ethyl]imidazole, U73122: 1-[6-[((17β)-3-Methoxyestra-1,3,5[10]-trien-17-yl)amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione, ACh: Acetylcholine, KCI: Potassium chloride, IP3: Inositol triphosphate, DAG: Diacylglycerol.